V&A show to tell story of fashion icon

The style, appeal and influence of the kimono will be explored in a new exhibition opening at the V&A next month.

Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk takes a look at the evolution of the kimono as a fashion icon, from 17th Century Japan to present-day couture and street fashion across the world.

Rare 17th and 18th Century kimono will be displayed alongside modern designs from Issey

Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, and Alexander Mcqueen.

The kimono’s recent reinvention on the streets of Japan will also be explored through work by contemporary designers and stylists.

The exhibition will also include a collection of around 300 garments, accessories, paintings, prints, photographs and film clips from the V&A and collections around the world.

This is the final opportunity to see these works together as Dundee is the last stop of the Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk international tour.

Kimono, which means “the thing to wear”, embodies Japanese culture and is viewed as a timeless garment.

Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk will reveal how the garment has always been a “dynamic” item of fashionable dress that has been restyled consistently throughout its history, influencing modern fashion and popular culture, from

evening wear and festival fashion, to rock stars and Star Wars.

Anna Jackson, curator of Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk, said: “From the sophisticated culture of 17th Century Kyoto to the creativity of the contemporary catwalk, the kimono is unique in its aesthetic importance and cultural impact, giving it a

fascinating place within the story of fashion.”

Kirsty Hassard, V&A Dundee curator, said: “Visitors will be able to enjoy a completely unique experience when they come to see Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk in the Japaneseinspired architecture of V&A Dundee.

“We can’t wait to open this exquisite exhibition which places kimono at the heart of an enthralling story of global fashion and cultural exchange.”

Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk opens May 4 and runs until January 5 2025.

Tickets are priced between £7 and £15, with a £2 discount when booking online.

Members and 18s and under go free.

EXHIBITION: Model Sally Pritchett wearing an antique kimono, and a kimono owned by Freddie Mercury.